Ann Widdecombe to be remembered at public memorial later this year

Ann Widdecombe is set to be remembered at a public memorial later this year, her family has announced.

The 78-year-old Reform UK spokeswoman and former Tory minister was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon on July 9 with serious head injuries.

Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, appeared in court on Tuesday charged with her murder.

Now her family has said a public memorial will be held later this year.

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In a statement, they said: "We understand that there is significant public interest in the funeral of Ann Widdecombe.

"A private service for family and close friends will be held in the coming weeks, and invitations for this ceremony have been distributed.

"A more public memorial will follow later in the year, the details of which will be released in due course.

"While we are very grateful for the wide expression of condolences, the family would ask that this initial service is limited to those closest to Ann."

Ms Widdecombe was first elected as a Conservative MP in Kent in 1987, later serving as Prisons Minister in the 1990s.

After a near-decade-long break from politics, she went on to become an MEP for the Brexit Party, then served as one of its spokespeople after it was rebranded to Reform UK.

She found fame outside politics on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother, coming second on the latter show.

Ms Widdecombe had been eating lunch when Kerry allegedly pulled up outside the front of her bungalow in a red Vauxhall Corsa, prosecutor Kashif Malik told the court on Tuesday.

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Kerry then allegedly used a hammer to hit Ms Widdecombe on the top of her head 21 times, the Old Bailey heard.

Prosecutor Alistair Richardson said she was found a day later lying face-down on her kitchen floor by her gardener.

A provisional cause of death was given as blunt force injury to the head, the court heard.

Detectives are still investigating any possible political or terrorism-related motivation.

If the case goes to trial, Kerry will have to wait nearly a year, with a provisional date set for June 8, 2027.

A bearded Kerry earlier appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court wearing a grey tracksuit, only speaking to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

He will next appear at the Old Bailey on October 9 for a case management hearing before a further plea and trial preparation hearing on November 20.

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